Surface condenser



Feb. 10. 1931. R A, ANEL 1,792,060

SURFACE CONDENSER Filed April 23. 1929 1 INVEN R.

uZZl Ban a 6L J90 BY H113 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 10, 1931 smegma rtur orrics PAUL A. nancnn or MonroLaIa-nnw annsnr, assrenen rro inennsotn nann COM- PANY; or JERsnYcrrY; newteaser,'A-coaronn'rron or NEW JERSEY sunracn connn issn 5 This invention relates to steam condensing apparatus and more particularly to surface condensing apparatus. It is an ob ect of the invention to provideacondenser that Willassure full steam penetration throughout the length of the condenser, for conditions of low circulating "water temperature and velocity.

Under summer conditionswhen comparatively warm coolingqwater is used in the tubes of a Condenser, thiscooling water is maintained at high velocity in the tubes sothat the rise in temperature along the tubesfw'ill be as low as practicable. Since the steam entering the condenser must necessarily transfer heat to the water in these tubes, there will be some rise in temperature and the problem of effecting equal depthiof penetration of the steam throughout the condenser arises. V7 hen cold water is used, as for example, in cold weather, this problem is not so difiicult if the water is still maintained at relatively high velocity in the tubes, because the cooling water is still fairly cool when discharged from the condenser. However, in order to save power, it has beenfound advisable to reduce the circulating pump discharge to lower the velocity of water in the tubes in order to avoid unnecessary use of power and when this is done the problem of maintaining equal depth of penetration of steam throughout the ter is used, at a reduced velocity there is a considerably greater temperature difi'erencebetween the cold and warm ends of the tubes. The net result of this condition is that steam will not penetrate the tubes an appreciable distance at the cold end and a considerable area of cooling surface will therefore beinetfective for its intended purpose. This invention provides means forproducing greatly increased vacuum at the coldend ofthe condenser as compared with the warmer end by which the hot steam is caused to penetrate to the bottom of the cold end of the condenser.

'besubstantially airtight ad acent the bottom "of the condenser for the reason that the treat- With these and other objects in View which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination I and arrangement of parts to be more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

Application filed lipril as, 1929. Serial nofeszssa In the accompanying sheet of drawing forming a part of'this specification, the figure is' a sectional elevation shown diagrammatically and taken through the condenser and through each unit of'a'uxiliary air and vapor removalequipment. 1

"The main condenser is shown at A and this condenser involves in its general organization, a shell 10 having a steam inlet 9, an inlet water box 11 provided with an inlet 12 and an outlet water box 13 provided with an outlet l l. ;At opposite ends of the condenser are supported a" airof tube sheets 15 and 16 having tubes 1 extending therebetween. The tubes have theirends sealed in the tube sheets 15 "and 16 in the usual manner. A

plurality of ube supports 18, 19 and 20 divide the condenser into'sections 21,22, 23 and 24 and these tube supports 18, 19 and function as partitions to seal the sections 21, 22, 23 and 24: from each other especially at the bottom of the shell 10. The sections 22 and vapor outlets are located in the bottom of each section. and are designated at 26, 27,

28 and 29 respectively. A throttle plate 30 is positioned in the vapor outlet 29 for a pur-' pose to, be more fully described later.

condenser is aggravated. For when cold wa- In order to permit the condensate to be removed from the bottom of the compartments 21 and 24: into the compartments 22 and 23 respectively, and to permit difierent vacuums to be maintained in the several compartments, there are provided a pair of conduits in the form ofinverted siphons or traps '33 and 34 connecting these respective compart-Inents and being of such depth as to hold a volumeof condensate'suflicient to form a compartment to the other.

Thecompartments 21,22, 23 and 24 should ment of air and vapor removed fromthe compartment' 21 is different from the treatment of air and vapor removed from the compartmenses, 23 and 24.

In accordance with the practice of the invention, means is provided to produce a greater vacuum in the coldest compartment or section 21 than in the warmer compartments 22, 23 and 24.

.Toward this end the air and vapor outlet 26 is connected by a suitable pipe to a cooler B. This cooler is provided with a shell having an inlet water box 41 and an outlet water box 42. The water boxes 41 and 42 are respectively provided with an inlet 45 and an outlet 46. At each end of the cooler between the water boxes 41 and 42 and the shell 40 are tube plates designated at 47 and 48 respectively and support between them a number of circulating water conducting tubes 49. Battles 50 and 51 are arranged longitu dinally of the cooler and in staggered relation to distribute the air and vapor and such steam as has passed through the condenser A circuitously throughout the cooler B. The cooler B may be designed to use raw cooling water in its circulating system in order to condense such small quantity of steam as has passed through the condenser A and to reduce the volume of air and uncondensible gases to a minimum. The inlet 35 to the cooler is positioned adjacent one end thereof to insure maximum longitudinal travel of the air and vapor along the length of tubes 49 of the cooler B. A condensate outlet 55 is pro:

vided in the cooler and an air and vapor outlet is shown at 56. The air and vapor outlet 56 is connected to a steam jet vacuum pump 60 of the usual type to compress the air and vapor issuing from the cooler B.

This steam jet is connected to the inlet 61 of an intercondenser G which is similar in form to the cooler B. The water boxes 58 of the intercondenser C are intended to carry raw cooling water in order to condense the steam issuing from the jet 60 and by devaporization and compression still further reduce the volume of the air and uncondensible gases carried over from the cooler B. The intercondenser C is provided with a con- (lensa-te outlet 64 and an aira'nd' vapor outlet 65, the latter being connected to a steam jet vacuum pump 66. A steam jet vacuum pump 66 leads through a connection 67 to an inlet 68 of an intercondenser D. The intercondenser D is provided with a shell '69, water boxes 70 and 71, tube sheets 72 and 73 and tubes 74 having their ends secured in the tube sheets 72 and 73. A tube support 75 divides the intercondenser D into two sections, each section having separate and independent inlets and outlets. One section of the intercondenser D is provided with a condensate outlet 77 and an air and vapor outlet 78. Partitions 80 and 81 are formed in'the water boxes and divide the water boxes into upper and lower compartments. The lower compartments may be adapted to-carry raw cooling water from the circulation system whereas the upper compartments may be adapted to carry condensate from the main condenser outlet 25.

The intercondenser D functions to condense the steam issuing from the jet 66, and the upper part of the intercondenser functions also as a heater for the condensate, since condensate passes through the upper tubes and absorbs heat from the hot mixture of steam and air at the entrance to the intercondenser. The outlet 78 is connected to a steam jet 7 9 leading to an inlet 83 in an after-condenser E. The after-condenser E is provided with a tube support 84 dividing the after-condenser into two sections. The water boxes 85 and 86 and the tubes 87 are adapted to contain condensate to be heated by the steam issuing from the jet 79. An outlet is shown at 190 leading to a discharge pipe 82.

Thus it will be seen that a plurality of stages of steam jet vacuum pumps, that is, a plurality of air and vapor removal equipment are connected to the cold end of the condenser A to produce a high vacuum in the section 21 of the condenser A to insure full depth of steam penetration in this section.

Referring again to the main condenser A, the air outlet 27 is connected through a suitable pipe 90 to the inlet 91 of a second cooler F. The cooler F is provided with water boxes and 101 preferably designed to use raw cooling water and having tubes 102. A tube support 103 divides the cooler into two separate and independent sections 106 and 107. Section 106 is preferably provided with baffles 108 to insure longitudinal travel of the air and vapor issuing from the outlet 27 with respect to the tubes 102. Section 106 is provided with a condensate outlet 109 and an air and vapor outlet 110 leading to a steam jet 111. This steam jet discharges into the same section of the intercondenser D as the steam jet 66. Adjacent the top thereof as at 211 and from thence the steam issuing from this jet is condensed on the tubes 74 and carried bythe same path that steam issuing from the jet 66 is carried.

It will be seen therefore, that air and vapor leading from the outlet 27 of the section 22 of the main condenser A is passed through fewer stages of steam jet vacuum pumps to maintain a relatively high vacuum in the section 22 but lower than the vacuum maiutained inthe section 21, because of the greater number of stages through which the air is passed from section 21.

Sections 23 and 24 have their outlets 28 and 29 leading to a common conduit communicati-ng with section 107 of the cooler 1* through an inlet 116. Section 107 is provided with baffles 118 and with a condensate outlet 119. The air and vapor outlet is at 120 and leads to a steam jet vacuum pump 121 communicating with the interior of the section of the intercondenser D separated from the in et with baflies 122 and with tions 21, 22, 23 and2-i.

211. This section is preferably provided a condensate outlet Since the upper tubes 74 of the interc'on denser are designed to carrycondensate, this condensate isheated by the steam issuing from thejet 121. The lower tubes 74:, carrying raw cooling waters serve to condense the vapor before passing to the air and'vapor outlets 130 leading to steam jet- 131 and-communicating with the interior of one section of the after-condenser E; .This last section is provided with an out-let 185. 1

The above mentioned parts define the nature the condenser and of its auxiliary air and vapor removal equipment andthe actual operation of the entire system will now be ex plained.

Steam entering the inlet 9 of the main condenser A is distributed tothe varioussec- Since cold Water is eniployedin'the cooling tubes 17 there is a considerable temperature difference between this water in' the tubes and the steam coming in contact therewith at the cooler end of the condenser. The amount of this temperature difference depends upon seasonal conditions and upon the vacuum maintained in the condenser. In sections of the condenser where the temperature difference is greatest, the steam tends to penetrate less deeply since it is most easily condensed. In warmer portions the steam will penetrate to the bottom; This is due to the fact that the capacity of the vacuum pumps is greater than the amount of and vapor to be withdrawn and to supply the deficiency in airsupply, steam is drawn through by the path of least'resista-nce which is the warmest section of the'conden ser. By the arrangement of vacuum pumps above described the vacuums in the various sections of the condenser may be varied to neutralizethe tendency to penetrate to diiferent depths in the condenser. By employing a plurality of stages, as for instance three stages'of steam jet vacuum pumps on the section 21 suiiicient vacuum is created to draw the steam entering this section to the bottomof the condenser. Because of this high vacuum a greator percentage of the steam entering the condenser will be drawn into this coolest section 21 than in the warmer sections 22, 23 and 24.

Since a high vacuum is maintained in the section 21 the pressure drop through this section will be greatest. and the amount of condensate will be proportionately large. A large portion of the vapor removed from this section 21 of the condenser to the cooler B condenses on contact with the cold tubesin the cooler and the air and vapor will be reduced in quantity. Such condensate as may be formed in the cooler B willbe carried through the connection 55, and the air and vapor, now reduced in quantity, will pass through the outlet 56 to the steam jet 60 where compression to atmospheric pressure starts,

to the condensate in the upper section of the 111 to be compressed.

"section 23 it is advantageous to to be limited to the specific arrangement of is carried by the steam in the jet 60 to the intercondenser G. The air and vapors in intercondenser C are reduced greatly in volume by condensation before being passed to i the. second stage of compression by the jet 66; The air and vapor will be carried through the connection 67 tothe upper portion of the intercondenser D and the steam issuing from the connection 67 will impart some of its heat 5 intercondenser D. Likewise this'air and vae por will be further condensed in the lowersec-. tion of the intercondenser D sincethis lower section-employs raw coolingwaterlin the 3 tubes. The uncondensible gases will pass through the last steam jet 79' at atmospheric pressure and the steam issuing therewith into the after-condenser E will serve to heat condensate flowing through the tubes of this after-condenser. a I

Steam entering the section 22 of the main condenser will be condensed in this section vapor will be reduced in volume by virtue of I '1ts contact with the cold tubes in this compartment. Such condensate as is formed in this connect-ion will. pass through the outlet 109 and the air and vapor'pass to the steam jet Steam issuing from this jet passes some of its heat to the condensate in the upper tubes of the intercondenser and is further condensed by the lower tubes which carry raw cooling water. These lower tubes serve to still further reduce the volume of the uncondensible gases before they pass to the jet 79 where they will be carried to the after-condenser through the jet 7 9.

- 7 Steam entering the sections 23 and 2&- is condensed in these two sections and a very slight amount of uncondensed steam passes to the other sectlon of the cooler F together with the air and vapors. This air and vapor is treated in the cooler F, intercondensner and aftercondenser E in a manner similar to the treatment of air and vapor issuing from the section 22. However since the cooling water in the section 24 is warmer than the water in the provide the throttle plate 30 in the outlet 29 to furnish a slight friction loss, thereby equalizing depth of, penetration of the steam in thetwosectious 23 and 24. i v I It is obvious then, that an extremely ellicient condensing unit has been provided. The drawings forming a part of this specification,"

while correct in detail, are intended to be merely diagrammatical to illustrate the princ ples of the invention. The lnvention is not parts shown. 6. 1m

I claim:

1. A surface condenser having a shell, tubes with different temperatures along their lengths, partitions in said condenser dividing the shell into a plurality of compartments, there being an outlet for the removal of uncondensible gases in each compartment, and stage vacuum pumps connected in series between a cooler, an inter-condenser and an after condenser to the outlet in the warmer oomiartment, and stage vacuum pumps connected in series between a cooler, each of a plurality of inter-condensers, and an after-condenser to the outlet in the cooler compartment.

2. VA surface condenser having tubes of dif ferent temperatures along their lengths, means dividing said condenser into a-cooler compartment and a warmer compartment, outlets in the condenser for the removal of uncondensible gases from the compartment,

and a plurality of gas removal elements con nected in series with auxiliary heat exchange elements to each compartment, there being at least one moregas removal element for evacuating the cooler compartment than the warmer compartment.

3. A surface condenser having tubes of different temperatures along their lengths, means dividing the condenser into compartments of different temperatures, outlet openings in the compartments for the removal of uncondensible gases, a series of gas evacuating element-s associated with each compartment, there being at least one more gas removal element for evacuating the compartment of lower temperature than the compartment of warmer temperature, auxiliary condensers interposed before and between the removal elements, and an auxiliary condenser serving as a final cooling stage for the gases of all the compartments.

4. A surface condenser with cooling tubes therein having different temperatures along their lengths and being divided into-a cooler compartment and a warmer compartment, there being an air and vapor outlet in each compartment, a cooler connected to each outlet, an intercondenser connected to each cooler, one intercondenser being connected to the other intercondenser, and an after-com denser, said last mentioned intercondenser being connected to the after-condenser.

5. A surface condenser having cooling tubes therein and being divided into a cooler compartment and a warmer compartment, there being an air and vapor outlet in each compartment, said cooling tubes having different temperatures along their lengths, a cooler connected to each outlet; and an intercondenser connected to each cooler, one intercondenser being connected to the other intercondenser, an after-condenser, said last mentioned intercondenser being connected to the after-condenser, and a steam jet inthe connection between said intercondensers.

61 A surface condenser having cooling tubes therein of different temperatures along their lengths, said condenser being divided into a cooler compartment and a warmer compartnient, there being an air and vapor outlet in each compartment, a cooler connected to each outlet; an intercondenser connected to each cooler, one intercondenser being connected to the other intercondenser, an after condenser, said last mentioned intercondenser being connected to the after-condenser, a steam jet in the connection between said intercondensers, a steam jet between each cooler and inter-condenser, and a steam jet between the intercondenser and after-condenser.

7. A surface condenser having cooling tubes therein of different temperatures along their lengths, said condenser being divided into acoolcr compartment and; a warmer compartment, there being an air and vapor outlet in each compartment, a cooler connected to each outlet, an intercondenser connected to each cooler, one intercondenser being connected to the other intercondenser, an aftercondenser, said last mentioned intercondenser being connected to the after-condenser, a steam in the connection between said intercondensers, and a steam jet between each cooler and intercondenser.

8. A surface condenser having cooling tubes therein of different temperatures along their lengths, said condenser being divided transversely into a cooler compartment and a warmer compartment, there being an air and vapor outlet in each compartment, a set of multiple stage steam jet vacuum pumps connected between auxiliary heat exchange elements to the air and vapor outlet of the warmer compartment, and a set of multiple stage steam jet vacuum pumps having one more stage than the said first mentioned set connected between auxiliary heat exchange elements to the air and vapor outlet of the cooler compartment.

9. A surface condenser having cooling tubes therein of different temperatures along vtheir lengths, said condenser being divided into cooler compartment and a warmer compartment, there being an air and vapor outlet in each compartment, auxiliary air removal equipment in the form of cooling units connected to each air and vapor removal outlet, there being more of such units connected to the air and vapor removal outlet of the cooler compartment than to the warmer compartment.

In testimony whereof I have specification.

PAUL A. BANCEL.

signed this 

